United States Congressman Riley M. Moore has formally presented a comprehensive report to President Donald Trump at the White House, alleging widespread persecution of Christians in Nigeria and recommending sweeping measures including targeted sanctions, withholding of US funds, and the repeal of Sharia and blasphemy laws in northern states .
The report, a joint effort by the House Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Affairs, follows President Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the US International Religious Freedom Act on October 31, 2025 . Moore stated that Trump personally tasked him and Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole to lead a congressional investigation into “the persecution against Christian communities and security challenges plaguing Nigeria” .
According to the lawmakers, the findings are the result of “months of investigation, including a bipartisan congressional fact-finding trip to Nigeria, hearings with expert witnesses, consultations with religious leaders, meetings with Internally Displaced Persons, and engagement with senior Nigerian government officials” .
Key Recommendations
The report outlines several concrete proposals :
· Bilateral Security Agreement: Establish a US-Nigeria security pact to protect vulnerable Christian communities and dismantle jihadist networks.
· Conditional Funding: Withhold certain US funds “pending demonstrable action by the Nigerian government to stop violence against Christians.”
· Sanctions and Visa Restrictions: Impose penalties on individuals and groups deemed responsible for or complicit in religious persecution.
· Repeal of Sharia and Blasphemy Laws: Demand the repeal of Islamic legal codes in twelve northern states, which the report argues contribute to religious discrimination .
· Technical Support: Provide assistance to eliminate violence from armed Fulani militias.
· International Coordination: Collaborate with partners including France, Hungary, and the United Kingdom.
The lawmakers also recommended blocking beef exports linked to armed herders and maintaining sanctions on specific entities, including Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and individuals such as former Kano Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso .
Alarming Statistics Cited
The report cites estimates that “between 50,000 to 125,000 Christians have been martyred between 2009 and 2025, with more than 19,000 Christian churches attacked or destroyed” . It further notes that according to the humanitarian organization Open Doors, “72 percent of Christians murdered for their faith around the world were killed in Nigeria in 2025” .
Moore described witnessing the situation firsthand: “I traveled on a bipartisan delegation to Nigeria and saw with my own eyes the horrific atrocities Christians face, and the instability the Nigerian government must combat” .
Nigerian Government Response
Successive Nigerian governments have consistently rejected claims of state-sponsored persecution, maintaining that insecurity affects citizens of all faiths and ethnicities . Following the CPC designation, President Bola Tinubu stated that “the characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality” .
Presidential Adviser on Policy Communication Daniel Bwala firmly opposed any constitutional amendment to ban Sharia, declaring: “Nigeria is a sovereign state, has never been colonized by America anywhere” .
The White House has yet to announce specific policy actions following the report’s submission . Analysts warn that any move to condition US assistance or impose sanctions could affect diplomatic ties between the two nations, which cooperate on counter-terrorism, regional security, and trade .
Disclaimer: This report is based on multiple news sources as cited, including official congressional statements and Nigerian media coverage. CDA News Nigeria does not independently verify claims made by foreign governments or political actors.
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